US 9,803,438 B2 · Expandable bullnose assembly for use with a wellbore deflector

Abstract

A method includes introducing a bullnose assembly into a main bore of a wellbore, the bullnose assembly including a body and a bullnose tip actuatable between a default configuration, where a collet body forming part of the bullnose tip exhibits a first diameter, and an actuated configuration, where the collet body exhibits a second diameter different than the first diameter. The bullnose assembly is then advanced to a deflector arranged within the main bore and defining a first channel that exhibits a predetermined diameter and communicates with a lower portion of the main bore, and a second channel that communicates with a lateral bore. The bullnose assembly is then directed into either the lower portion of the main bore or the lateral bore based on a diameter of the collet body as compared to the predetermined diameter.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A method, comprising:

introducing a bullnose assembly into a main bore of a wellbore, the bullnose assembly including a body and a bullnose tip actuatable between a default configuration, where a collet body forming part of the bullnose tip exhibits a first diameter, and an actuated configuration, where the collet body exhibits a second diameter different than the first diameter;
advancing the bullnose assembly to a deflector arranged within the main bore and defining a first channel that exhibits a predetermined diameter and communicates with a lower portion of the main bore, and a second channel that communicates with a lateral bore;
and
directing the bullnose assembly into either the lower portion of the main bore or the lateral bore based on a diameter of the collet body as compared to the predetermined diameter.

1 more element

A method, comprising:

introducing a bullnose assembly into a main bore having a first junction and a second junction spaced downhole from the first junction, the bullnose assembly including a body and a bullnose tip arranged at a distal end of the body and actuatable between a default configuration, where a collet body forming part of the bullnose tip exhibits a first diameter, and an actuated configuration, where the collet body exhibits a second diameter different than the first diameter;
advancing the bullnose assembly to a first deflector at the first junction, the first deflector defining a first channel that exhibits a predetermined diameter and communicates with a first lower portion of the main bore, and a second channel that communicates with a first lateral bore;
and
directing the bullnose assembly into one of the first lower portion of the main bore and the first lateral bore based on a diameter of the collet body as compared to the predetermined diameter.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

15/016,513Filed 5 Feb 2016 · division

Published

US 2016/0153253 A12 Jun 2016

Granted

31 Oct 2017

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

E21B 7/061
Deflecting the direction of boreholes: the tool shaft advancing relative to a guide, e.g. a curved tube or a whipstock
E21B 23/12
Introducing or running tools by fluid pressure, e.g. through-the-flow-line tool systems: tool diverters
E21B 19/24
Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables: guiding or…
E21B 41/0035
Equipment or details not covered by groups E21B15/00 - E21B40/00: apparatus or methods for multilateral well technology, e.g. for the completion…

Family

PCT/US2013/052105Parent of this division · filed 25 Jul 2013

US 2016/0153253 A1Pre-grant publication · published 2 Jun 2016

Application14/358,777Parent of this division

US 9,284,802 B2Parent of this division

US 2015/0218899 A1Published application

US 9,803,438 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Expandable bullnose assembly for use with a wellbore deflector

Life of this patent

Expandable bullnose assembly for use with a wellbore deflector

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14